As is tradition, there is an opportunity for both lower and upper secondary students to come and play chess in room 113 one afternoon a week. Whether you are an advanced club player or an absolute beginner, it does not matter how good (or bad) you are: if you feel like giving it a try, you are just as welcome as if you could play a blind simultaneous exhibition. There is no instruction or lesson, but there is time to practice with enthusiastic opponents. Throughout the year, we will form teams to represent Murmellius at various (school) chess tournaments in the surrounding area and nationwide. Questions? Please contact CAS.

In the school band, music is made together. Every age, every instrument, and every level is welcome; the music is arranged in such a way that everyone can play in a challenging manner. The emphasis will be on light music genres, such as pop and rock, but instruments typically used in classical music, such as strings, are certainly welcome too! Throughout the year, there are several performance opportunities, including during Music-In.

Sign up with your music teacher

The Music-In is a talent evening and takes place in the auditorium on various dates starting at 7:30 PM. Students can sign up to perform with their music teacher.

All types of acts are welcome.

If you pass this German exam, you will receive the so-called Goethe-Zertifikat.

DELF Scolaire at the Murmellius 2025/2026

The French section offers the opportunity to take a DELF exam at level B1 or B2. The DELF scolaire (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française) exams are official French language exams administered worldwide.

When the students pass the exam, they receive a diploma recognized by the French Ministry of Education that corresponds to the Council of Europe's European Framework of Reference.

Why is it beneficial to obtain a DELF scolaire diploma?

The DELF diploma is an advantage for international study programs, such as European Law, International Business, or International Law.

• DELF diplomas exist at various levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2). A B2 diploma signifies a command of the French language that allows the student to be admitted to a French university. France is the third country of choice for foreign students, after the United States and the United Kingdom.

• For those who wish to study medicine and aspire to a position with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), it is good to know that the working language of this organization is French.

• The DELF diploma is an official document with an internationally recognized level. It is very useful if you are going to work in a French-speaking country or if you have contacts with French-speaking countries. After England and Germany, France is the most important trading partner for the Netherlands.

• French is spoken in 43 countries, either because it is the mother tongue or because it is the official language of instruction and is taught in schools as the most important foreign language.

Exams in June 2026

The exams will take place at two different locations and on two different days.

Written: Reading, listening, and writing on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 09:00 at the Murmellius Gymnasium.

Oral: Speaking on Saturday, June 6, level B1, and on Saturday, June 13, level B2 (probably in Amsterdam).

The costs:

• Exams at level B1: €120.00

• Exams at level B2: €135.00

Every registration is final! Registration fees are non-refundable.

Register via the form . The form must be completed by the parent/guardian. Registration is open until April 1, 2026.

Important information:

Two weeks before the exam, the student receives a summons for the individual oral exam from the French teacher. The time and location of this exam are final.

There is only one version of the exam. To ensure the reliability of the results, it is therefore not possible to organize a make-up exam. Consequently, if one of the students is ill on the day of the oral or written exam, it is not possible for that student to take the exam.

In English lessons, we use and read English books that prepare you for Cambridge English exams. In the lower years, all students receive English instruction at the same level. Subsequently, depending on their level, students are placed in either Cambridge or regular English. Students who have already reached the C1 level in the third year are offered the opportunity to prepare for the highest level, Cambridge Proficiency English (CPE = CEFR level C2). This exam is taken in the fifth year.

School newspaper

De Interpres has been the school newspaper of the Murmellius Gymnasium for over 70 years. Our enthusiastic editorial team produces an edition four times a year with articles on a wide range of topics: from interviews with teachers to puzzles, from film reviews to columns. To achieve this, we meet about eight times a year with the editorial team, which consists of a mixed group of boys and girls from all classes, led by Mrs. Schiffer.

However, we do not only write articles; we also handle the funding, photography, and layout of the Interpres. We also organize activities, for example at the annual event 'the class struggle'.

Do you have any questions or comments, or would you like to advertise in Interpres? Email Interpres.redactie@gmail.com .

The debate club generally participates in two debates per school year. The Alkmaar Student Debate takes place in November/December. The PCC, the Jan Arentsz, the Dalton College, and the Murmellius participate in this. The Municipality of Alkmaar organizes this debate. There are several rounds with different debate formats. 8 to 10 students per school participate.

The De Stem Van Jong Nederland tournament (formerly the House of Commons Debate) takes place in February/March. This involves a provincial preliminary round in which about 16 schools from North Holland participate. You play in a pool of 4 schools and potentially the semi-finals and final. There are three debate formats per round, and 10 students participate per school. If you win, you can advance to the national finals. Murmellius won the North Holland preliminary round in both 2024 and 2025! Students participating in the tournaments always find the first time they speak in a debate quite nerve-wracking, but afterwards, almost without exception, they speak of a fantastic experience.

From September to February, students practice at school under the supervision of a teacher. As the date of a tournament approaches, they can practice more frequently, even without teacher supervision. The debate club is a sociable, almost self-organizing club! If you have participated in a tournament, you will receive a certificate. You can also record your participation in the debate club on your Plus Document.

You can register with Mrs. Van Goethem.

What is IMUNA

IMUNA is an international youth conference held annually at the Murmellius Gymnasium, where hundreds of participants from all over the world come together to debate current issues. Think of it as a debate similar to those held at the United Nations. This means that each participant represents an assigned country during the weekend, keeping in mind their interests regarding the issue being discussed.

Why you should participate

Thanks to the international nature of the conference, English will be spoken throughout the entire weekend. This makes participating not only incredibly fun but also very educational.

How to participate

First of all, you can of course participate as a delegate. The MUN debate is subject to various rules, which you can familiarize yourself with before the conference takes place. An MUN meeting is organized at school every week, where you can practice using a similar debate.

Furthermore, you can sign up as a press member. As a press member, you are responsible for the production of the IMMUNE, IMUNA's daily newspaper. However, there are many other ways to be part of IMUNA. For example, you can help as an Admin or as a Catering Assistant.

Host family and/or friend of IMUNA

A large number of participants will be placed with a host family. Providing housing is only possible with your help!

Finally, you can also join the Friends of IMUNA . In exchange for a contribution of your choosing, we offer you the IMMUNE, the daily newsletter, and a guided tour. In effect, therefore, it is a form of sponsorship.

Registration forms are available from the caretaker, so sign up quickly! Further information and deadlines can be found at imuna.nl and the Facebook page . If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to email secretariat@imuna.nl . Hope to see you soon!

THIMUN

THIMUN is an even larger event than IMUNA (approximately 3,500 students from countries all over the world) that usually takes place in The Hague during the last week of January. On average, 15 students from our school participate, representing a country together. We stay at a holiday park in Kijkduin from Monday to Saturday and travel by bus to the World Forum Convention Center, where a simulation of the United Nations takes place. This is taken very seriously, including a strict dress code and rigorous debate rules. Because we organize IMUNA, Murmellius is authorized to send delegates. It is therefore truly special to attend THIMUN. For the six months leading up to the congress, we practice debating, naturally in English. The best and most motivated debaters are allowed to participate in THIMUN. You can register with Ms. Kuipers and Mr. Van Kempen.

Castalia is an extra hours project for the lower grades. Eligible students work on a project of their choice during class hours. Each week, they can be given a number of class hours off to work on their project. Examples of projects include creating their own music album or finding out how to get into the House of Representatives.

The students must ultimately deliver a product . This can be anything, except a project or presentation. The first cohort, for example, came up with an entire music album on Spotify and a self-made manga. Last school year, a group of students devised and created a board game, and they are in talks with a game manufacturer to eventually publish it (get it into stores). Another group made an incredibly fun documentary about the mysteries of the Murmellius.

You can get more information from Ms. Spijkers (the coordinator), your mentor, or the vice-principal.

The Honours Programme Gymnasia is an in-depth and broadening programme for upper-level students at independent gymnasia that concludes with an examination in the sixth year and is listed in the plus document.

In the HPG, the student works one hundred hours per year on a self-designed project that can build upon a school subject, but can also lie entirely outside of it and be, for example, creative, business-oriented, organizational, or philanthropic in nature. The HPG is intended for students who wish to develop themselves broadly within a project they can become passionate about.

Participating students are assigned a supervisor and may miss a number of class hours at their own discretion to work on their project. There are several joint work afternoons per year, and annually there is a national student day.

Students are admitted to the program after selection by the Murmellius.

You can register with Mr. Cureton.

Why should you participate in the Biology Olympiad? There are plenty of good reasons! Whether you want to explore if you enjoy biology, discover more about it, or challenge yourself on how much you know and can do, the Olympiad is the right place for you.

You can register with Mrs. De Ronde.

Lower years: January – February

Upper years: December

Do you want to measure yourself against the best? Then you can participate in the Mathematics Olympiad. Participation is compulsory for Mathematics D students, and there is a bonus to be earned if they reach the next round. Other students can sign up voluntarily. By that time, all mathematics teachers will inform their students that they may participate. The only condition is that you do not have a test or an excursion for another subject at that time.

You can register with Mr. Meijer.

Period: January

Everyone in the first year automatically participates in the most fun arithmetic and mathematics competition in the Netherlands. Other students can sign up voluntarily, provided the Kangaroo test is not scheduled at a time when you have a test or an excursion for another subject.

Everyone receives a certificate afterwards containing a number of quiz questions. The best students from classes 1 and 2 are invited to the Junior Mathematics Olympiad (JWO), and the five best students from classes 3 through 5 earn an invitation to the National Mathematics Olympiad.

W4Kangaroo: March

Every year, we participate in the Chemistry Olympiad for interested students from grades 5 and 6 (and exceptional students from grade 4). You can always ask for practice material if, for example, you are already somewhat ahead with the coursework. The Olympiad questions (also recognizable in the NOVA book by the Erlenmeyer flask symbol) are usually slightly more challenging than the level of the final exam. Although it requires more problem-solving, it is a good way to test how well you have mastered the material.

First round: January

For more information and to register, please contact Mr. Van Sluis and Ms. Tol.

It is possible to participate in the Physics Olympiad in both the upper and lower years. The problems are quite challenging, but if you enjoy physics even a little, they are actually very fun. Just like with chemistry, it is exceptionally sometimes possible to participate in the upper-year Olympiad as early as Year 4.

First round: January

For more information and to register, please contact Mr. Van Sluis and Ms. Tol.

For science talents, we participate annually in the IJSO (International Junior Science Olympiad). This olympiad consists of knowledge questions covering all biology, chemistry, and physics theory from the lower grades. Are you among the top 10% of students in the Netherlands? Then you will receive a certificate afterwards. In recent years, talented Murmellians have regularly reached the national or even the global tournament. Looking back, they reflect on these unique experiences with great pleasure.

First round: March

For more information and to register, please contact Mr. Van Sluis and Ms. Tol.

We are also participating again this school year in the European Olympiad of Experimental Science (EOES) for teams from classes 4 and 5 (practical work in the fields of biology, physics, and chemistry). During our last participation, two teams reached the regional top, but we were only allowed to send one team to the national final. They won this edition, which allowed them to represent the Dutch team in the international final in the Czech Republic. Just like with the IJSO, the international final tournament consists of an extensive program, where meeting peers from other countries is at least as important as the competition itself. You can watch a video of the atmosphere via the button below.

First round: December

For more information and to register, please contact Mr. Van Sluis and Ms. Tol.